Gaddafi's former PM faces Libyan judges for first time By AFP | Monday, November 12
2012 at
17:10

Muammar Gaddafi’s last prime minister became the highest ranking former regime official to go before Libyan judges, in a brief but sullen court appearance on Monday.

Dressed in a traditional white robe and brown vest, Mr Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmudi sat in stoney silence within a caged section of the Tripoli criminal court, where figures of the toppled Gaddafi regime are facing justice.

The judge did not read out the charges but Mr Taha Baara, the spokesman for the prosecutor general, said Mr Mahmudi “is accused of committing prejudicial acts against the security of the state and financial crimes”.

Two other defendants being tried along with Mr Mahmudi were not brought to court, triggering protests from the defence team, which also requested more time to study the case.

“It is a big file. I need more time in order to get myself ready for the defence,” lawyer Ali Dabba said.

The session lasted about 10 minutes before the trial was adjourned until December 10 at the request of both the defence and the prosecution.

Mr Mahmudi fled to neighbouring Tunisia in September last year shortly after rebels seized Tripoli and effectively put an end to more than four decades of iron-fisted Gaddafi rule.

He was extradited to Libya to face justice on June 24, despite warnings from rights groups that he could face the death penalty.